Japanese groups

1 ：Logic：03/07/04 09:15

To understand Japanese culture is to know difference between Japanese culture and other ones. Concretely, I am going to write about Position and thought of people in Japanese Groups. For this, it is a good way to find differences between Japanese one and Chinese one, and between Japanese one and western one (especially, American) cultures. Roughly speaking, firstly Japan imported Chinese culture, and secondly American culture, as you know, then Japan still has something like both Chinese and American cultures.

I will introduce some comments by Julien Guerrier, a Belgian who lived in Japan for more than half a year and won the first prize at the fifth speech contest that was hosted by Belgian-Japanese Society’s Publicity Committee in 1996 in Japan. I will summarize what he said in Japanese and translate it into English. He said as follows: “Many Japanese people tend to strongly believe in and to be proud of their uniqueness as groups, even though all white-collar workers in Japan wear dark suits and neck ties, and many Japanese people see foreigners in different ways from ways to see Japanese because of the difference in appearance. This is because Japanese are apt to think they have to belong to one of many kinds of groups in Japanese society ？ Western people have only two groups of individuals and others？ and have to hold uniqueness of and for groups like Japan as a country, companies and families. I think that the fact many Japanese people work hard for the groups with being proud of their uniqueness as groups correspondsto the fact that many Europeans individually make efforts by doing different things from others for their success.”

2 ：Logic：03/07/04 09:17

I perfectly agree with Mr. Guerrier’s comment that Japanese people work hard for their groups. Then I would like to add my opinion to it. This type of Japanese groups are something generated by exclusionism. Chinese people also work hard for their groups, but there is a difference between Japanese and Chinese people. The type of Chinese group is something generated by esprit de corps.

3 ：Logic：03/07/04 09:18

When Chinese stay abroad, say, in the U.S., they tend to organize groups of Chinese workers, for example, in Chinatown in San Francisco. They usually help each other through adversity. I think that is because of the stability of the Chinese culture based on its long history. This stability helps their friendship continue. When Japanese people go abroad, they make groups and usually help each other, too. However this was limited to the case they are not accustomed to places. Once they get accustomed to the place, even though they may continue to hold the groups, the possibility to help each other won't be so high.

4 ：Logic：03/07/04 09:19

Japanese people have always innately tried to adapt to and bring in other cultures from ancient times. But it is also true of that Japanese people tend to dislike values, appearance and acts different from these of their own groups, as Mr. Guerrier said. For example, when they get accustomed to American society, they are already like American in the ways of thinking and working (working for themselves.) But, for this is not a Japanese ways some of them dislike these. This is typical Japanese exclusionism. These two of tendency to adapt to other groups and exclusionism easily generate discord among people in their groups. I think, as a result, they will come to work for themselves after all and stop helping each other and that people in their groups may break up.

5 ：Logic：03/07/04 09:20

I will repeat what I wrote. Western people have only two groups of individuals and others. Chinese people make many groups, which have people who help each other by esprit de corps. Japanese people also make groups, which has people who exclude people out side of their groups.

In conclusion, even though this is right about a part of Japanese culture, the custom as a key to understand Japanese culture is that they usually make groups that has both people who adapt to other groups of other cultures and people who exclude people who is in other cultures.

I am very sorry if I discomfort you. If you just feel uninteresting of my opinion, you can leave. I asked how you think about Japanese groups. If you agree with me, would you mind if I ask you to write some comments which support me. If you experienced something as I wrote, you can write it, too.

The reason why I wrote English is that original sentences are written in English, I wanted to read the above and to write who can understand English. I think someone who can understand what I wrote well knows some about foreign countries, where English is spoken. If you are someone as I said, and can spare me some time, can I ask you to point out something bad about what I wrote, and write about that in English? Althogh I do not forbid you to write in Japanese, I recommend you to write in English.

I am very sorry if I discomfort you. If you just feel uninteresting of my opinion, you can leave. I asked how you think about Japanese groups. If you agree with me, would you mind if I ask you to write some comments which support me. If you experienced something as I wrote, you can write it, too.

The reason why I wrote English is that original sentences are written in English, I wanted someone who can understand English to read the above and to write. I think someone who can understand what I wrote well knows some about foreign countries, where English is spoken. If you are someone as I said, and can spare me some time, can I ask you to point out something bad about what I wrote, and write about that in English? Althogh I do not forbid you to write in Japanese, I recommend you to write in English.

>>1 Do you speak English regulurly?Are you not Japanese?.....sorry,there is great deal of lier here,2ch. I'm suprised that someone wrote in here in English. They feel so too.Because here is Japanease board and they use Japanese regulurly.Even if English is most widely spoken and used,they always sp -eak Japanse.They use English only to write the paper,or speak foreign people. Me,too.It is very natural response. Although >>18->>20 transrated your topic into Japanese,you could expect serious(earnest) response,but,I think there is little possibility. I want to know the reason why have you been here?Please tell me. then,I'm sorry if I'm poor Enlish writer.